It was the satisfying crack as the paddle hit the ball that first caught our attention. This was at East Coast Park, where a group of four youths seemed to be playing an improvised form of badminton – but with rectangular paddles, perforated hollow plastic balls, and a volleyball net. Intrigued, we soon learned that this was a form of pickleball – known as America's fastest-growing sport and quickly catching on in Singapore too.
We were surprised to learn that pickleball was first introduced in Singapore in the 1990s. It remained fairly niche, only gaining popularity following the pandemic years. Speaking to Joseph Gollifer, a tennis and pickleball coach at the local academics Play! Tennis and Play! Pickle, we learned that there are over 2000 active pickleball players in Singapore now and the numbers are growing fast. We even have a full-fledged national association called the Singapore Pickleball Association and more than 20 competitive teams.
Why are so many people hooked on this sport? To find out, we met up with Joseph and the Play! Pickle team on a balmy weekday afternoon at a rooftop court in Chai Chee to learn more.
What is pickleball?
Joseph explains it simply. "It's a great combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, which are sports loved by many Singaporeans," he says.
Pickleball was cooked up in a backyard in Bainbridge Island, Washington during a monotonous summer in 1965. True enough, it was played on a badminton court with table tennis paddles and a ball scrounged up from an old plastic bat and ball set. It was given the name pickleball after the "pickle boat" crews made up of leftover rowers in the local boat racing competitions.
How is it played?
If you've played any racket sport, then pickleball will feel fairly familiar. Just like these games, players stand on opposing sides of the court and lob a ball back and forth over a low net. A point is scored when the opponent commits a fault, like missing the ball or hitting it out of bounds. Casual games are usually played until one side reaches 11 points, winning by a difference of two points.
During our private coaching session with Joseph, we learned some specifics too – the best way to hold the paddle, how to stand on the court, and how to serve (underhand, with the paddle staying below waist level throughout the serve). What stood out was the no-volley zone, an area about two metres on either side of the net that's also called a "kitchen". Joseph told us to imagine the space covered in lava – balls are allowed to bounce off the non-volley zone, but at no point could we step into it.
Is it easy to play?
We found pickleball to be a super accessible sport. There are surely many more rules to it, but the basics that Joseph taught us were enough to have a satisfying rally. After an hour of coaching, the Time Out team was able to complete an acceptable serve and "dink" the balls back and forth in soft arcs. The pickleball court is small, so those who are interested in a casual game can keep the pace easy with minimal running and exertion.
Looking for a more strenuous workout? "While it's accessible and easy to pick up, it's also possible to play it at a higher level, for those who have competitive streaks," says Joseph. Once you up the pace, the small court becomes something of a challenge. It quickly turns into a rapid-fire exchange that requires sharp eyes and quick reflexes. You need strong and mobile wrists so you can fire shots accurately and powerfully too. You're bound to sweat whether you're playing indoors or outdoors.
So, why play pickleball?
It's easy to pick up, and not just for the young and able. It has simple rules, requires minimal equipment, and has an intensity that you can easily scale to your physical ability.
Pickleball is also fun and social. "Pickleball is innately a highly social game that is played with friends, family and new acquaintances, and the atmosphere is always friendly," says Joseph. And we agree – pickleball can be played as singles or doubles, so up to four can be on the court at any time. Because we weren't stressed by complicated rules or exhausted from having to cover a lot of ground, we also found ourselves having boisterous conversations while playing pickleball.
How to get started?
"All you need is a paddle and a pickleball!" says Joseph. You can get a set (two paddles and a ball) on e-commerce stores like Shopee for as low as $20. If you're willing to invest in something sturdier, Decathlon also sells Stiga paddles that range in price from $110 to $189, alongside pickleball sets and accessories. Like something flashy? You can easily find designer paddles made in collaboration with artists too – an expensive but satisfying black hole to fall into.
While pickleball can be played anywhere that there’s hard ground, it is ideal to play on a pickleball court. The good news is that there are at least 200 pickleball courts at community centres, sports centres, and schools around Singapore. These are available to book on ActiveSG. Otherwise, you can sign up for classes with Play! Pickle and a host of other pickleball coaching schools to get access to a proper court.
"My tip for beginners would be to just pick up a paddle and try some pickleball!" says Joseph.
